Description:c1952/1953.
Black-and-white image showing the infants of Cottingley Hall School posing for a class photograph. The photograph was taken in the school hall around 1952 to 1953. The boy with curly hair and wearing spectacles, standing at the back is Roger Willoughby. Standing at the far right is Brian? On the middle row to the far left is Carol Kelsey and on the far right of the row is Barbara Belton. Carol Bramwell is seated second from the right on the front row and Alan Marsden is sitting cross-legged on the floor to the left. Some of the children are wearing long, woollen socks for warmth and a few have their handkerchiefs pinned to their jerseys. Any other information would be appreciated.

User Comments:

Name:

Andrea Postle { Now Hargreaves}

Comment:

Hi Barbara, Top row right is Brian Taylor, Bottom row sitting and third from left is Moira Rogerson, I am not on it and neither is Chris Went, but Chris does have a later photo with at least 40 or so children on it, great to see you again !! Don't we change

I think that the boy standing next to Roger Willoughby may be Brian Taylor and the girl third from the left on the front row could be Moira Rogerson. Barbara, is the little girl sitting in front of you Barbara Sykes? I do know for sure that I am not on it!

Hi Barbara, On looking more carefully, I am next but one to you and the girl in front's hair ribbon is hiding my mouth but on looking I recognize my ringlets!! and the dress I am wearing is one my mother made me, the pattern was used over and over again. Best wishes

This was taken the winter before we moved from Beeston to Cottingley but it is the class I moved into. I recognise Andrea now, and on her right (left as you look at the photo) I think may be Barbara Hodgson. By 1958, when the class photo Andrea mentions was taken, the piano had been moved up onto the platform. Considering that we were the baby boomers, this is a very small class.

This was my class. Initially I went to Beeston infants as a six year old ( Teacher, Miss Eastwood) before the Cottingley school was built (head teacher Miss Hughes and my first class teacher- Miss Wharf - who I fell in love with !). The year for the photo is about right as I was born in 1944. Because the school was not built until around 1950/51 we little ones went to Beeston. A few years ago The Yorkshire Evening Post published a series of memories of the estate and to which I contributed fairly lengthy article swhich were kindly published over two editions. i I still have copies of those articles on file. Arising from those publication I received a letter from our next door neighbour of the time, a Mrs Willoughby, their son Roger who is mentioned on the photograph sadly died at a young age. I cannot name any of the others but I am fairly sure I am the other one sitting cross legged at the front ( Jack Cooper). If I am wrong, my apologies to whoever it might be !.

With regards to your comment Rev. Cooper. I am on this photo and I was born in 1947 three years after you, so it highly unlikely that you are on this class photograph. We who remember Miss Wharf/Mrs Knapp will remember what a lovely teacher she was and I can imagine a little boy falling in love with her, she was kindness itself, but, like others, she could silence the class with a look. I am so sorry that Roger died young, I had forgotten him until I saw this photo and he came back immediately. I do remember a 'Jackie Cooper' who was often in trouble. Not you I am sure!!! My friend Christine Went has a better memory than I do and perhaps she will remember who the other children are in the photo. Regards Andrea

My sister Catherine Evans is in the middle of the front row with a ribbon in her hair. She was born in January 1947 and remembers her friend Barbara Belton. Perhaps there are only 21 children because the school had only just opened. I was born in December 1947 and was in the class below Catherine.

The Roger mentioned is Wilby, not Willoughby.
Some of the girls have shoulder bags. I had one when I started infants' school at Beeston. You were supposed to keep your hankie in it and any other small items you brought to school.
The long socks were the standard for boys, summer or winter and girls wore them too, in winter.

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